World leading Indigenous educators to meet in Cairns

Key Indigenous leaders from universities around the world, including directors of Indigenous education centres along the Pacific Rim, are meeting in Cairns this week for the 6th International Conference on Indigenous Education.

Delegates from Canada, China, USA, Taiwan, New Zealand/Aoteroa and Australia will come together to share and discuss issues related to Indigenous education in their communities.

The conference, to be held from December 18 to 21, will be hosted by the Australian Catholic University’s Centre for Indigenous Education and Research and Charles Darwin University’s Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Education.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership, at Charles Darwin University Professor Steve Larkin said he looked forward to the opportunities for networking and learning that a gathering like this afforded.

“This is an important part of the process of developing and maintaining links with colleges and universities in other parts of the world who share similar aspirations and face similar challenges,” Professor Larkin said.

Director of the Centre for Indigenous Education and Research at the Australian Catholic University Professor Nereda White said the conference was an important part of establishing and maintaining relationships.

“It will provide us with the chance to share ideas and debate issues,” Professor White said. “The networks that are formed often result in fantastic opportunities for collaborative teaching and research.”

The conference is the latest is a series of gatherings that has helped to establish a network of educators and promote academic exchange between Indigenous teachers and researchers around the Pacific. Previous conferences have been held in Vancouver, Hawaii and Taipei.